Diagnostic imaging apparatus, diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus, and medical image displaying apparatus

ABSTRACT

The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present embodiments includes a display unit, an input unit, and a display control unit. The display unit includes a display area in which a medical image and a menu in relation to the medical image are displayed. The input unit receives input to the display area. The display control unit displays different menus in the display area in accordance with the input received by the input unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser.No. 13/107,249, filed May 13, 2011, and claims the benefit of priorityfrom Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-112293, filed on May 14, 2010;and Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-82083, filed on Apr. 1, 2011.The entire contents of the above-identified applications areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a diagnostic imagingapparatus, a diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus, and a medical imagedisplaying apparatus.

BACKGROUND

A diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus generates an ultrasonic image from areflection wave signal that is obtained by scanning a subject with anultrasonic probe. Some of the diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus areprovided with a touch panel to display an ultrasonic image and also toreceive various operations from an operator. For such diagnosticultrasonic apparatus incorporating a touch panel, a conventionaltechnology has been known that displays graphics such as switches,icons, and tabs on the monitor of the touch panel, receives operationswith respect to these graphics, and thereby displays various menus foran ultrasonic image.

With such a conventional technology, however, if graphics such asswitches, icons, and tabs are constantly displayed on the monitor, thesegraphics reduce the display area of an ultrasonic image. Thus, thedisplay area is not always effectively used during examination of amedical image such as an ultrasonic image according to the conventionaltechnology.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for showing the structure of a diagnosticultrasonic apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram for showing the structure of thediagnostic ultrasonic apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for showing an example of setting information storedin a setting information storage unit according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 4 to 10 are diagrams for showing menus that are displayed by adisplay control unit according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a diagram of an example layout of menus determined by asetting information changing unit according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for showing the process procedure of displaying amenu on the diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 13 is a diagram for showing a medical image management systemincluding a medical image displaying apparatus according to the secondembodiment; and

FIG. 14 is a block diagram for showing the structure of the medicalimage displaying apparatus according to the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A diagnostic imaging apparatus, a diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus, and amedical image displaying apparatus according to the present embodimentsare explained in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

The diagnostic imaging apparatus, the diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus,and the medical image displaying apparatus according to the presentembodiment include a display unit, an input unit, and a display controlunit. The display unit is provided with a display area in which amedical image is displayed. The input unit receives inputs with respectto the display area. The display control unit displays different menusin the display area in accordance with the input received by the inputunit.

First, the structure of the diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus is explainedas the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for showing thestructure of the diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus according to the firstembodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the diagnostic ultrasonicapparatus according to the first embodiment includes an ultrasonic probe1, a touch panel 2, an operating unit 3, and an apparatus main body 10.

The ultrasonic probe 1 is provided with multiple piezoelectrictransducers. Each of the piezoelectric transducers generates ultrasonicwaves in accordance with a drive signal supplied from a later-describedtransmitting unit 11 of the apparatus main body 10, and moreover, itreceives waves reflected from a subject P and converts it to anelectronic signal. The ultrasonic probe 1 is also provided with amatching layer on the piezoelectric transducers, a backing material thatprevents ultrasonic waves from propagating backwards from thepiezoelectric transducers, and the like.

When the ultrasonic probe 1 transmits an ultrasonic wave to the subjectP, the transmitted ultrasonic wave is reflected sequentially from thesurfaces of the body tissue of the subject P with acoustic impedancediscontinuities, and the multiple piezoelectric transducers of theultrasonic probe 1 receive it as a reflection wave signal. The amplitudeof the reflection wave signal depends on a difference in the acousticimpedances of the discontinuous surface from which the ultrasonic waveis reflected. When the transmitted ultrasonic pulses are reflected fromthe flowing bloodstream or the surfaces of the cardiac wall or the like,the frequency of the reflection wave signal is shifted due to theDoppler effect, in accordance with the velocity component in theultrasonic wave transmission direction in the moving body.

The touch panel 2 displays an ultrasonic image generated by theapparatus main body 10, and also receives various operations from theoperator of the diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus. This touch panel 2 willbe discussed in detail later.

The operating unit 3 includes input devices such as a mouse, a keyboard,buttons, panel switches, and a trackball, and receives various settingrequests from the operator by way of the input devices. Then, theoperating unit 3 transmits the received setting requests to theapparatus main body 10.

The apparatus main body 10 generates an ultrasonic image in accordancewith the reflection wave signal received by the ultrasonic probe 1. Thisapparatus main body 10 includes a transmitting unit 11, a receiving unit12, a B-mode processing unit 13, a Doppler processing unit 14, an imageprocessing unit 15, an image memory 16, a control unit 17, and aninternal storage unit 18.

The transmitting unit 11 includes a trigger generating circuit, adelaying circuit, a pulsar circuit, and the like, and supplies a drivesignal to the ultrasonic probe 1. The pulsar circuit repeatedlygenerates rate pulses at a certain rate frequency to create atransmission ultrasonic wave. Furthermore, the delaying circuit gives adelay time for each piezoelectric transducer to each rate pulsegenerated by the pulsar circuit so that it is used to gather theultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic probe 1 into a beam anddetermine the transmission directionality. Furthermore, the triggergenerating circuit supplies a drive signal to the ultrasonic probe 1 ata timing based on the rate pulse.

The receiving unit 12 includes an amplifying circuit, an A/D converter,an adder, and the like, and performs various processing onto thereflection wave signal received by the ultrasonic probe 1 to generatereflection wave data. The amplifying circuit performs gain correction byamplifying the reflection wave signal; the A/D converter performs A/Dconversion onto the gain-corrected reflection wave signal and gives it adelay time necessary to determine the reception directionality; theadder performs an addition onto the reflection wave signal that isprocessed by the A/D converter; and thereby the reflection wave data isgenerated. In the addition performed by the adder, the reflectioncomponent of the direction corresponding to the reception directionalityof the reflection wave signal is enhanced.

In this manner, the transmitting unit 11 and the receiving unit 12control the transmission directionality and the reception directionalityduring the transmission/reception of the ultrasonic wave.

The B-mode processing unit 13 receives the reflection wave data from thereceiving unit 12 and performs logarithmic amplification and envelopdetection to generate data (B-mode data) that represents the intensityof the signal by the level of brightness.

The Doppler processing unit 14 performs frequency analysis on thevelocity information of the reflection wave data received from thereceiving unit 12, extracts echo components of the bloodstream, tissue,and contrast agent by use of the Doppler effect, and thereby generatesdata (Doppler data) from the extracted multipoint information of themoving bodies such as the average speed, dispersion, and power.

The image processing unit 15 generates an ultrasonic image from theB-mode data generated by the B-mode processing unit 13 and the Dopplerdata generated by the Doppler processing unit 14. For example, the imageprocessing unit 15 generates a B-mode image from the B-mode data and aDoppler image from the Doppler data.

The image memory 16 stores therein the ultrasonic image generated by theimage processing unit 15.

The control unit 17 controls the entire process of the diagnosticultrasonic apparatus. For example, the control unit 17 controls thetransmitting unit 11, the receiving unit 12, the B-mode processing unit13, the Doppler processing unit 14, and the image processing unit 15,based on various setting requests input by the operator by way of theoperating unit 3 and various controlling programs and various types ofsetting information that are read from the internal storage unit 18. Inaddition, the control unit 17 displays the ultrasonic image stored inthe image memory 16 on the touch panel 2. This control unit will beexplained in detail later.

The internal storage unit 18 stores therein controlling programs thatare used for various processes such as ultrasonic wavetransmission/reception, image processing, and display processing, andvarious kinds of data such as diagnostic information (e.g., patient IDsand doctor's remarks), diagnostic protocols, and setting information.Moreover, the internal storage unit 18 is used, if necessary, also forstorage of images stored in the image memory 16. The data stored in theinternal storage unit 18 may be transferred to an external peripheraldevice by way of a not-shown interface circuit. The internal storageunit 18 will be discussed in detail later.

The structure of the diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus according to thefirst embodiment has been explained. With such a structure, the touchpanel 2 of the diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus according to the firstembodiment has a display area in which an ultrasonic image is displayed,and receives a position input operation to input any position in thedisplay area. When the position input operation is received, the controlunit 17 displays a menu in relation to the ultrasonic image in thedisplay area of the touch panel 2.

In other words, the diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus according to thefirst embodiment displays an ultrasonic image in the entire display areaof the touch panel 2 during the examination of the ultrasonic image,and, only when the operator desires, it displays a necessary menu in thedisplay area. Thus, according to the first embodiment, the display areaof the monitor can be effectively used when an ultrasonic image isexamined.

Next, the detailed structure of the diagnostic ultrasonic apparatusaccording to the first embodiment is discussed. FIG. 2 is a functionalblock diagram for showing the detailed structure of the diagnosticultrasonic apparatus according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 2, thetouch panel 2, the control unit 17, and the internal storage unit 18illustrated in FIG. 1 are presented. Here, the touch panel 2, thecontrol unit 17, and the internal storage unit 18 are explained indetail with reference to FIG. 2.

The touch panel 2 includes a display unit 2 a and an input unit 2 b.

The display unit 2 a includes a display area in which an ultrasonicimage is displayed. For example, the display unit 2 a displays anultrasonic image and various menus in relation to the ultrasonic image,under the control of the later-described display control unit 17 a. Thedisplay unit 2 a may be a liquid crystal monitor.

The input unit 2 b receives the position input operation that is toinput a position in the display area of the display unit 2 a. As theposition input operation, for example, the input unit 2 b receives fromthe operator an operation of touching any position in the display areaof the display unit 2 a. When the position in the display area istouched by the operator, the input unit 2 b sends the screen positioninformation that indicates the touched position to the later-describeddisplay control unit 17 a.

The internal storage unit 18 includes a setting information storage unit18 a. This internal storage unit 18 may be a hard disk drive or anon-volatile semiconductor memory.

The setting information storage unit 18 a stores therein settinginformation in which the area information and the menu information arebrought into correspondence. FIG. 3 is a diagram for showing an exampleof the setting information stored in the setting information storageunit 18 a according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 3,for example, the setting information storage unit 18 a stores thereininformation in which the preset information, the area information, andthe menu information are brought into correspondence, as the settinginformation.

The preset information indicates the diagnosis target site. For example,“abdomen”, “kidney”, or “thyroid gland” may be entered in the presetinformation. When an ultrasonic image is taken with the diagnosticultrasonic apparatus according to the first embodiment, the operatorselects a diagnosis target site from among the sites entered in thepreset information.

The area information indicates an area arranged in the display area ofthe display unit 2 a. For example, the area information includes threeitems, “area”, “position”, and “size”. A number is assigned to each areato uniquely identify the individual areas arranged in the display areaamong the same preset information. For the positions, area positioninformation is entered to indicate the positions of the areas arrangedin the display area. For the sizes, area size information is entered toindicate the sizes of the areas arranged in the display area.

The menu information indicates types of menus in relation to theultrasonic image. According to the first embodiment, the menuinformation is determined for different display modes and differentimaging modes. For example, information on menus for live display andfor freeze display is determined as the menu information. Here, the livedisplay menu is used during the live display of an ultrasonic image.Meanwhile, the freeze display menu is used during the freeze display ofthe ultrasonic image. In addition, the menu information for thesedisplay modes is determined for each imaging mode. For example,information regarding 2D imaging (imaging of a two-dimensional image),color imaging, and Doppler imaging is determined for the menuinformation of each display mode.

Then, information indicating various types of menus is determined in themenu information for each display mode and each imaging mode. Forexample, “patient information”, “image quality parameter”, “preset”,“probe selection”, “image viewing”, “measurement 1”, “annotation”,“measurement 2”, “body mark”, and the like are set in each item of themenu information. The menus corresponding to such menu information willbe discussed in detail later.

With the setting information storage unit 18 a storing therein thesetting information in which the area information and the menuinformation are brought into association with each other, one area ormore are determined in the display area of the display unit 2 a.Furthermore, with the setting information storage unit 18 a storingtherein the menus in correspondence with the display mode and theimaging mode for each area determined in the display area, a menu thatis to be displayed in response to the designation of an area can bedefined.

In FIG. 2, the control unit 17 includes the display control unit 17 a, amenu processing control unit 17 b, a setting information changing unit17 c, a transmission/reception control unit 17 d, and a measuring unit17 e.

The display control unit 17 a displays the ultrasonic image, variousmenus in relation to the ultrasonic image, and the like onto the displayunit 2 a. For example, the display control unit 17 a displays theultrasonic image generated by the apparatus main body 10 live on thedisplay unit 2 a. Furthermore, for example, when the operator sends aninstruction of freeze display, the display control unit 17 a freezes(displays a still image of) the ultrasonic image generated by theapparatus main body 10 on the display unit 2 a.

Here, for example, the display control unit 17 a may display atransmission/reception menu for receiving termination or start of theultrasonic wave transmission/reception in a display area 20, inaccordance with the input received by the input unit 2 b. If theoperator instructs termination of the ultrasonic wavetransmission/reception, the last ultrasonic image generated by theapparatus main body 10 is freeze-displayed on the display unit 2 a.Moreover, when the operator instructs the start of the ultrasonic wavetransmission/reception, the ultrasonic image generated by the apparatusmain body 10 is displayed live.

In addition, for example, when the input unit 2 b receives a positioninput operation, the display control unit 17 a displays a menu inrelation to the ultrasonic image in the display area of the display unit2 a. The display control unit 17 a displays different menus in thedisplay area in accordance with the input received by the input unit 2b. More specifically, the display control unit 17 a displays, in thedisplay area of the display unit 2 a, a menu that is brought intocorrespondence with the area including the position input through theposition input operation, based on the setting information stored in thesetting information storage unit 18 a.

More specifically, the display control unit 17 a displays various menus,in accordance with the diagnosis target site that is selected by theoperator from the preset information at the imaging of the ultrasonicimage. In addition, the display control unit 17 a determines which ofthe live display menu and the freeze display menu is to be displayed, inaccordance with the ultrasonic image that is live-displayed orfreeze-displayed. Furthermore, the display control unit 17 a displays amenu in accordance with the imaging mode.

FIGS. 4 to 10 are diagrams for explaining menus that are displayed bythe display control unit 17 a according to the first embodiment. It isassumed here that the setting information storage unit 18 a storestherein the setting information indicated in FIG. 3. Furthermore, it isassumed that the abdomen is selected as the diagnosis target site, thelive display is selected as the display mode, and 2D imaging is selectedas the imaging mode. In this situation, as indicated in FIG. 4, fiveareas, 21 to 25, are arranged in the display area 20 of the display unit2 a.

In FIG. 4, an area 21 corresponds to the data in which the presetinformation shows “abdomen” and the area of the area information shows“1” according to the setting information of FIG. 3. Further, an area 22corresponds to the data in which the preset information shows “abdomen”and the area of the area information shows “2”. In addition, an area 23corresponds to the data in which the preset information shows “abdomen”and the area of the area information shows “3”. An area 24 correspondsto the data in which the preset information shows “abdomen” and the areaof the area information shows “4”. An area 25 corresponds to the data inwhich the preset information shows “abdomen” and the area of the areainformation shows “5”. For convenience of explanation, the areas 21 to25 are indicated in broken lines in FIG. 4, but no broken lines areactually displayed in the display area 20.

When the input unit 2 b receives the operation of touching any positionin the display area 20, the display control unit 17 a receives thescreen position information that indicates the touched position from theinput unit 2 b. Then, the display control unit 17 a identifies the areathat includes the position indicated by the received screen positioninformation, based on the area position information and the area sizeinformation for each area that are included in the setting informationstored in the setting information storage unit 18 a, and displays themenu that corresponds to the identified area in the display area 20.

It is assumed, for example, that the operation of touching the area 21is received by the input unit 2 b. Here, according to the settinginformation of FIG. 3, the data corresponding to the area 21 includes“patient information” in the menu information for the live display ofthe 2D imaging. Thus, for this case, the display control unit 17 adisplays a patient information menu 31 in the display area 20, asindicated in FIG. 5. The patient information menu 31 is used by theoperator to input information on the diagnosis target patient, such as apatient ID that uniquely identifies the patient and the age, gender, andname of the patient.

Furthermore, for example, the input unit 2 b receives the operation oftouching the area 22. Here, according to the setting information of FIG.3, the data corresponding to the area 22 includes “image qualityparameter” in the menu information for live display of 2D imaging. Thus,for this case, the display control unit 17 a displays an image qualityparameter menu 32 in the display area 20, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Theimage quality parameter menu 32 is used by the operator to inputinformation on the quality of the ultrasonic image, such as thefrequency of the ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic probe 1,the focus of the ultrasonic wave, and the brightness of the ultrasonicimage.

Still further, for example, the input unit 2 b receives the operation oftouching the area 23. Here, according to the setting information of FIG.3, the data corresponding to the area 23 has “preset” in the menuinformation for live display of 2D imaging. Thus, for this case, thedisplay control unit 17 a displays a preset menu 33 in the display area20, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The preset menu 33 is used by the operatorto select a diagnosis target site.

Still further, for example, the input unit 2 b receives the operation oftouching the area 24. Here, according to the setting information of FIG.3, the data corresponding to the area 24 has “probe selection” in themenu information for live display of 2D imaging. Thus, for this case,the display control unit 17 a displays a probe selection menu 34 in thedisplay area 20, as illustrated in FIG. 8. The probe selection menu 34is used by the operator to select the ultrasonic probe 1 that is to beadopted for the ultrasonic imaging from among the multiple ultrasonicprobes.

Still further, for example, the input unit 2 b receives the operation oftouching the area 25. According to the setting information of FIG. 3,the data corresponding to the area 25 has “image viewing” in the menuinformation for live display of 2D imaging. Thus, for this case, thedisplay control unit 17 a displays an image viewing menu 35 in thedisplay area 20, as illustrated in FIG. 9. The image viewing menu 35 isused by the operator to select an image that is to be displayed in thedisplay area from among the previously taken ultrasonic images of thesame subject. For example, the previously taken ultrasonic images aredisplayed in thumb-nailed form on the image viewing menu 35 so that theoperator can select any one of the ultrasonic images that are displayed.

If, for example, freeze display is selected as the display mode, thedisplay control unit 17 a displays a menu in the display area 20, basedon what is indicated in the 2D menu information for freeze display,according to the setting information stored in the setting informationstorage unit 18 a. More specifically, the display control unit 17 a maydisplay a measurement menu for receiving selection of a specificmeasurement item in the display area 20, in accordance with the inputreceived by the input unit 2 b.

For example, the input unit 2 b receives the operation of touching thearea 21. According to the setting information of FIG. 3, the datacorresponding to the area 21 has “measurement 1” in the menu informationfor freeze display of 2D imaging. Thus, for this case, the displaycontrol unit 17 a displays in the display area 20, for example, ameasurement menu 41 for measuring any distance in the ultrasonic image,as illustrated in FIG. 10.

Furthermore, the input unit 2 b receives, for example, the operation oftouching the area 22. Here, according to the setting information of FIG.3, the data corresponding to the area 22 has “annotation” in the menuinformation for freeze display of 2D imaging. Thus, for this case, thedisplay control unit 17 a displays in the display area 20 an annotationmenu 42 for attaching various kinds of information on the diagnosis,such as a type of tumor developed in the imaged site, to the ultrasonicimage, as illustrated in FIG. 10.

Still further, the input unit 2 b receives the operation of touching thearea 23. Here, according to the setting information of FIG. 3, the datacorresponding to the area 23 has “measurement 2” in the menu informationfor freeze display of the 2D imaging. Thus, for this case, the displaycontrol unit 17 a displays, for example, a measurement menu 43 formeasuring the size of any region included in the ultrasonic image in thedisplay area 20, as illustrated in FIG. 10.

Still further, for example, the input unit 2 b receives the operation oftouching the area 24. Here, according to the setting information of FIG.3, the data corresponding to the area 24 has “body mark” in the menuinformation for freeze display of the 2D imaging. Thus, for this case,the display control unit 17 a displays in the display area 20 a bodymark menu 44 for attaching a body mark to the ultrasonic image to showthe position or orientation of the ultrasonic probe 1 placed on thesubject, as illustrated in FIG. 10.

As discussed above, because the display control unit 17 a changes a menudisplayed in the display area in accordance with the display mode, asuitable menu can be displayed in accordance with the display mode when,for example, the menus used by the operator vary depending on thedisplay mode of the ultrasonic image.

The display control unit 17 a is configured, for example, to display amenu that is likely to be manipulated while the ultrasonic image isbeing examined, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 10, so as not to interferewith the examination of the ultrasonic image displayed in the displayarea 20. In other words, the display control unit 17 a displays any menuthat is likely to be manipulated while the ultrasonic image is beingexamined in such a manner that the area of the ultrasonic image that ishidden behind the menu is minimized in the display area 20.

In addition, after displaying a menu in correspondence with the positiondesignating operation conducted by the operator, the display controlunit 17 a may perform control so that the displayed menu disappears fromthe display area after a predetermined period of time. In such a case,the display control unit 17 a may further perform control so that themenu would not disappear after the predetermined period of time when anoperation of requesting fixed menu display is received from theoperator. In this manner, the operability of the menu display can beimproved.

In FIG. 2, the menu processing control unit 17 b controls all the unitsof the apparatus main body 10 in accordance with the menus under thecontrol of the display control unit 17 a. For example, the menuprocessing control unit 17 b controls the later-explainedtransmission/reception control unit 17 d in accordance with the input onthe transmission/reception menu displayed in the display area 20. Inaddition, for example, the menu processing control unit 17 b controlsthe later-described measuring unit 17 e in accordance with the input onthe measurement menu 41 or 43 displayed in the display area 20.

The transmission/reception control unit 17 d controls the transmissionand reception of the ultrasonic wave. This transmission/receptioncontrol unit 17 d performs control, based on the input on thetransmission/reception menu, under the control of the menu processingcontrol unit 17 b in such a manner as to start or stop the transmissionand reception of the ultrasonic wave. More specifically, thetransmission/reception control unit 17 d controls the transmitting unit11 and the receiving unit 12 of the apparatus main body 10 to stop orstart the transmission and reception of the ultrasonic wave.

The measuring unit 17 e performs measurements onto the ultrasonic imagefor certain measurement items. This measuring unit 17 e performs controlfor the selected measurement item in accordance with the input on themeasurement menu 41 or 43 under the control of the menu processingcontrol unit 17 b. For example, if input is made on the measurement menu41, the measuring unit 17 e executes the process of measuring a certaindistance in the ultrasonic image. Furthermore, if input is made on themeasurement menu 43, the measuring unit 17 e executes the process ofmeasuring the size of a certain region included in the ultrasonic image.

The measurements performed by the measuring unit 17 e are not limited tothe above. For example, the measuring unit 17 e may perform measurementsof the bloodstream speed in a Doppler image, the ratio of thebloodstream speeds during constriction and expansion, and the weight ofa fetus estimated from the length of the spine and the size of the headat the examination.

The setting information changing unit 17 c changes the association ofthe area information and the menu information in the setting informationstored in the setting information storage unit 18 a. The settinginformation changing unit 17 c also changes the area positioninformation and the area size information included in the settinginformation.

For example, the setting information changing unit 17 c displays in thedisplay unit 2 a the information indicating the layout of the menus inthe display area, in response to a request from the operator. FIG. 11 isa diagram for showing an example of the menu layout displayed by thesetting information changing unit 17 c according to the firstembodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 11 the setting information changingunit 17 c displays, for example, the areas laid out in the display area20 in broken lines, in accordance with the area information included inthe setting information stored in the setting information storage unit18 a. The setting information changing unit 17 c also displays, for eacharea, a live display menu and a freeze display menu that are broughtinto correspondence with each area. The setting information changingunit 17 c changes the display illustrated in FIG. 11, for each siteentered in the preset information and each imaging mode.

More specifically, the setting information changing unit 17 c receivesan operation of changing the association of the area and the menu fromthe operator, for the area displayed by the display unit 2 a. Forexample, the setting information changing unit 17 c receives anoperation of rewriting information of the menu displayed in the areaindicated in broken lines in the display area 20, as the operation ofchanging the association of the area and the menu. In accordance withthe received operation, the setting information changing unit 17 cchanges the association of the area information and the menu informationin the setting information stored in the setting information storageunit 18 a.

Moreover, the setting information changing unit 17 c receives from theoperator the operation of changing the positions of the areas displayedin the display unit 2 a. For example, the setting information changingunit 17 c receives the operation of moving the areas shown in the brokenlines in the display area 20, as the operation of changing the positionsof the areas. Then, the setting information changing unit 17 c changesthe area position information that is included in the area informationstored in the setting information storage unit 18 a, in accordance withthe received operation.

The setting information changing unit 17 c also receives the operationof changing the sizes of the areas displayed on the display unit 2 afrom the operator. For example, the setting information changing unit 17c receives, as the operation of changing the sizes of the areas, theoperation of enlarging or reducing any area indicated in broken lines inthe display area 20. Then, the setting information changing unit 17 cchanges the area size information included in the area informationstored in the setting information storage unit 18 a, in accordance withthe received operation.

Moreover, the setting information changing unit 17 c receives theoperation of changing the number of areas displayed on the display unit2 a from the operator. For example, the setting information changingunit 17 c receives, as the operation of changing the number of areas,the operation of deleting any area indicated in broken lines in thedisplay area 20 or the operation of adding an area indicated in brokenlines in the display area 20. Then, the setting information changingunit 17 c deletes the data of the deleted area and adds the data of theadded area with respect to the area information stored in the settinginformation storage unit 18 a, in accordance with the receivedoperation.

Here, as indicated in FIG. 11, the information on the areas and menusthat is displayed in the display area 20 has been explained. On theother hand, for example, the setting information indicated in FIG. 3 maybe displayed in the form of a list in the display area 20. In thismanner, the operator can make more modifications to the settinginformation at a time.

Next, the procedure of the menu displaying process executed by thediagnostic ultrasonic apparatus according to the first embodiment isexplained. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the procedure of the menudisplaying process executed on the diagnostic ultrasonic apparatusaccording to the first embodiment.

As indicated in FIG. 12, in the diagnostic ultrasonic apparatusaccording to the first embodiment, when the operator starts thediagnosis (yes at step S101), the apparatus main body 10 generates anultrasonic image in accordance with a reflection wave signal received bythe ultrasonic probe 1 (step S102).

In addition, the display control unit 17 a displays the ultrasonic imagegenerated by the apparatus main body 10 live on the display unit 2 a(step S103). If the operator does not instruct to start the freezedisplay (no at step S104), the display control unit 17 a continues todisplay the ultrasonic image live.

Then, when the operator touches the display area while the ultrasonicimage is being displayed live (yes at step S105), the display controlunit 17 a displays the live display menu corresponding to the touchedposition (step S106). If the operator does not touch the display area(no at step S105), the display control unit 17 a continues to generateand live-display the ultrasonic image without displaying any menu untilthe operator terminates the diagnosis (no at step S111).

In addition, if the operator instructs to start the freeze displayduring the live display of the ultrasonic image (yes at step S104), thedisplay control unit 17 a freeze-displays the ultrasonic image generatedby the apparatus main body 10 onto the display unit 2 a (step S107).

Then, if the operator touches the display area during the freeze displayof the ultrasonic image (yes at step S108), the display control unit 17a displays the freeze display menu corresponding to the touched positionon the display area (step S109). If the operator does not touch thedisplay area (no at step S108), the display control unit 17 a continuesto freeze-display the ultrasonic image without displaying any menu,until the operator issues instructions to terminate the freeze display(no at step S110).

Furthermore, when the operator issues instructions to terminate thefreeze-display (yes at step S110), the display control unit 17 a returnsto the display mode of displaying the ultrasonic image live, andperforms generation and live display of the ultrasonic image until theoperator terminates the diagnosis (no at step S111).

Then, when the operator terminates the diagnosis while the ultrasonicimage is being displayed live (yes at step S111), the display controlunit 17 a terminates the live display of the ultrasonic image.

As discussed above, according to the first embodiment, the display unit2 a includes a display area to display an ultrasonic image. In addition,the input unit 2 b receives a position input operation for inputting aposition in the display area included in the display unit 2 a. Then,when the input unit 2 b receives the position input operation, thedisplay control unit 17 a displays a menu in relation to the ultrasonicimage in the display area. Thus, according to the first embodiment, amenu is displayed only when it is necessary for the operator, andtherefore the display area of the monitor can be effectively used duringthe examination of the ultrasonic image.

Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the display unit 2 a andthe input unit 2 b are realized by a touch panel. Thus, according to thefirst embodiment, a necessary menu is displayed when an areapredetermined in the display area of the touch panel is touched, andthus the operator can perceptively perform operations.

In addition, according to the first embodiment, the setting informationstorage unit 18 a stores therein setting information in which areainformation indicating an area provided in the display area of thedisplay unit 2 a and menu information indicating a type of menu areassociated with each other. Then, based on the setting informationstored in the setting information storage unit 18 a, the display controlunit 17 a displays in the display area a menu that is brought intocorrespondence with the area including the position input through theposition input operation. Hence, according to the first embodiment, amenu that is predetermined for each area provided in the display areacan be displayed.

In addition, according to the first embodiment, the menu informationstored in the setting information storage unit 18 a includes informationon the live display menu that is used during the live display of anultrasonic image and the freeze display menu that is used during thefreeze display of an ultrasonic image. Then, depending on the livedisplay or freeze display of the ultrasonic image, the display controlunit 17 a determines whether the live display menu or the freeze displaymenu is to be displayed. Hence, according to the first embodiment, asuitable menu can be displayed in accordance with the display mode ofthe ultrasonic image when the menu used by the operator varies inaccordance with the display mode.

In addition, according to the first embodiment, the setting informationchanging unit 17 c changes the association of the area information andthe menu information in the setting information stored in the settinginformation storage unit 18 a. Thus, according to the first embodiment,the operator is allowed to freely change a menu, for each area, that isdisplayed when an area provided in the display area is designated.

Further, according to the first embodiment, the area information storedin the setting information storage unit 18 a includes area positioninformation that indicates an area provided in the display area. Then,the setting information changing unit 17 c changes the area positioninformation included in the area information. Thus, according to thefirst embodiment, the operator is allowed to freely change the positionof the area provided in the display area.

In addition, according to the first embodiment, the area informationstored in the setting information storage unit 18 a includes area sizeinformation that indicates the size of an area provided in the displayarea. Then, the setting information changing unit 17 c changes the areasize information included in the area information. Hence, according tothe first embodiment, the operator is allowed to freely change the sizeof the area provided in the display area.

According to the first embodiment, the structure in which areas laid outin the display area are not displayed has been explained. On the otherhand, for example, the display control unit 17 a may display the areasin a transparent color or in frames in the display area. In this manner,the operator can easily recognize the range in which the areas are laidout in the display area. In this case, for example, informationnecessary for the display of the areas, such as information on the hueand shade of the transparent color, is added as display information tothe setting information illustrated in FIG. 3. Then, the display controlunit 17 a displays the areas in the display area by use of the displayinformation included in the setting information. In addition, thesetting information changing unit 17 c may be configured to change thedisplay information in response to the operator's request. In thismanner, the operator is allowed to freely change the display style ofthe areas displayed in the display area.

In addition, according to the first embodiment, the structure in whichthe input unit 2 b of the touch panel 2 receives from the operator theoperation of touching any position in the display area of the displayunit 2 a as the position input operation has been discussed. On theother hand, for example, the operating unit 3 may receive the positioninput operation from the operator by way of a mouse, a keyboard,buttons, panel switches, trackballs, and the like. In such a case, theoperating unit 3 may receive the operator's operation of clicking themouse on the display area, and send the screen position informationindicating the clicked position to the display control unit 17 a. Inthis manner, even if, for example, the input unit 2 b of the touch panel2 develops trouble and becomes unusable, the operator can still have amenu displayed on the display area.

Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the structure in which amenu is displayed when the position designation operation is receivedfrom the operator has been explained. For example, the display controlunit 17 a may be configured to switch between the display mode explainedin the first embodiment and the conventional display mode of displayingthe menus and the ultrasonic image together, in response to theoperator's request. In this manner, the manner of displaying menus canbe suitably changed in accordance with the type of diagnosis and theoperator's preference.

Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, for example, the displayof menus that are generally used for the operator of the diagnosticultrasonic apparatus to perform operations in relation to the ultrasonicimage, such as the patient information menu 31, the image qualityparameter menu 32, the preset menu 33, the probe selection menu 34, andthe image viewing menu 35, has been explained. On the other hand, whenan operation different from any of the generally used menus that havebeen discussed in the first embodiment is received from the operator,the display control unit 17 a may be configured to display in thedisplay area a menu specially used by a service person or the like whoperforms maintenance of the display diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus. Thespecially used menu may be an initial setting menu that is used forinitial settings when the diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus is newlyinstalled in a hospital or the like and a setting change menu that isused by a service person to change the system settings. In such asituation, for example, the display control unit 17 a is configured todisplay these menus in the display area when the operator touches acertain area laid out in the display area of the display unit 2 a for apredetermined length of time (e.g., 5 seconds) or longer.

In addition, according to the first embodiment, the structure in whichmultiple areas are displayed in the display area of the display unit 2 aand operations in relation to these areas are received so that variousmenus are displayed has been discussed. In contrast, a sensor may beprovided in the frame of the monitor that has a displaying function onlyso that when the sensor detects that the operator touches any positionof the frame, the display control unit 17 a can display a menucorresponding to the touched position. In such a situation, for example,when the position of a frame in the upper part of the monitor istouched, the display control unit 17 a displays the patient informationmenu 31 in the display area, while when the position of a frame in theright part of the monitor is touched, the display control unit 17 adisplays the probe selection menu 34 in the display area.

In addition, the diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus has been discussed inthe first embodiment, but the exemplary embodiments are not limitedthereto. For example, the menu displaying function explained in thefirst embodiment may be implemented in other diagnostic imagingapparatus such as an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, an X-ray computedtomography (CT) apparatus, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus.

Next, as the second embodiment, the medical image displaying apparatusis explained. FIG. 13 is a diagram of a medical image management systemincluding a medical image displaying apparatus 50 according to thesecond embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 13, for example, the medicalimage displaying apparatus 50 is connected to a medical diagnosticimaging apparatus 70 and a medical image storage apparatus 80 by way ofa network 60 in a communicable manner.

The medical diagnostic imaging apparatus 70 collects medical images ofthe subject. This medical diagnostic imaging apparatus 70 may be adiagnostic ultrasonic apparatus, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus,or an X-ray computed tomography (CT) apparatus. The medical diagnosticimaging apparatus 70 generates a medical image in the imaging format,for example, based on the digital imaging and communications in medicine(DICOM) standard.

The medical image storage apparatus 80 stores therein the medical imagescollected by the medical diagnostic imaging apparatus 70. For example,the medical image storage apparatus 80 stores therein the medical imagesgenerated by the medical diagnostic imaging apparatus 70 in the imagingformat based on the DICOM standard.

The medical image displaying apparatus 50 obtains a medical image fromthe medical diagnostic imaging apparatus 70 or the medical image storageapparatus 80, and displays the obtained medical image. The medical imagedisplaying apparatus 50 is, for example, an image viewer or aworkstation.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram for showing the structure of the medicalimage displaying apparatus 50 according to the second embodiment. Asillustrated in FIG. 14, the medical image displaying apparatus 50according to the second embodiment includes, for example, a display unit51, an input unit 52, a storage unit 53, and a control unit 54.

The display unit 51 includes a display area to display a medical image.The display unit 51 is, for example, a liquid crystal monitor or acathode ray tube (CRT) monitor. For example, the display unit 51displays various medical images and various menus in relation to themedical images, under the control of a later-described display controlunit 54 a.

The input unit 52 receives input of various kinds of information fromthe operator. The input unit 52 may be a mouse or a keyboard. Forexample, the input unit 52 receives a position input operation withwhich a position in the display area of the display unit 51 is input. Asa specific example, the input unit 52 receives, as a position inputoperation, an operation of clicking any position in the display area ofthe display unit 51 with the mouse from the operator. In addition, whenthe position in the display area is clicked by the operator, the inputunit 52 sends screen position information that indicates the clickedposition to the display control unit 54 a.

The display unit 51 and the input unit 52 may be provided by the touchpanel.

The storage unit 53 stores therein various types of medical information.The storage unit 53 may be a hard disk drive or a semiconductor memory.For example, the storage unit 53 includes a setting information storageunit 53 a and an image storage unit 53 b.

The setting information storage unit 53 a stores therein, in the samemanner as the setting information storage unit 18 a described in thefirst embodiment, setting information in which area informationindicating an area provided in the display area of the display unit 51and menu information indicating a type of menu are associated with eachother. According to the second embodiment, the area informationindicates an area provided in the display area of the display unit 51.Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, the menu informationindicates a type of menu in relation to medical images.

For example, according to the second embodiment, information on the menufor display of moving images and information on the menu for display ofstill images are provided as the menu information. Here, the menu formoving image display is used when a medical moving image is beingdisplayed. Moreover, the menu for still image display is used when amedical still image is being displayed.

The image storage unit 53 b stores therein various medical imagesobtained from the medical diagnostic imaging apparatus 70 or the medicalimage storage apparatus 80.

The control unit 54 includes the display control unit 54 a, a menuprocessing control unit 54 b, a setting information changing unit 54 c,a measuring unit 54 e, and an image obtaining unit 54 f.

The image obtaining unit 54 f obtains a medical image from the medicaldiagnostic imaging apparatus 70 or the medical image storage apparatus80 by way of the network 60. For example, the image obtaining unit 54 fsends, in response to the operator's request, a medical image obtainingrequest to the medical diagnostic imaging apparatus 70 or the medicalimage storage apparatus 80, and receives a medical image in response tothis obtaining request. Then, the image obtaining unit 54 f stores thereceived medical image in the image storage unit 53 b.

The display control unit 54 a displays various medical images andvarious menus in relation to the medical images onto the display unit51. For example, the display control unit 54 a receives an instructionof the moving image display or the still image display of a medicalimage from the operator, and performs the moving image display or thestill image display of the medical image designated by the operator ontothe display area of the display unit 51, in accordance with the receivedinstruction.

Furthermore, the display control unit 54 a displays a menu in relationto the medical images in the display area of the display unit 51 whenthe input unit 52 receives a position input operation. The displaycontrol unit 54 a displays different menus in the display area, inresponse to the input received by the input unit 52. More specifically,the display control unit 54 a displays a menu that is brought intocorrespondence with the area that includes the position input throughthe position input operation in the display area of the display unit 51,based on the setting information stored in the setting informationstorage unit 53 a.

Furthermore, the display control unit 54 a displays the moving imagedisplay menu or the still image display menu, depending on whether themedical image is displayed as a moving image or a still image. Morespecifically, when the medical image is displayed as a moving image, thedisplay control unit 54 a displays the menu in the display area 20,based on the information determined as the menu information for movingimage display in the setting information stored in the settinginformation storage unit 53 a. For example, the display control unit 54a displays, if the medical image is displayed as a moving image, a menufor receiving an instruction of slow-motion playback or frame-by-frameplayback of the moving image, in the display area 20.

On the other hand, if the medical image is displayed as a still image,the display control unit 54 a displays a menu in the display area 20,based on the information determined in the menu information for stillimage display in the setting information stored in the settinginformation storage unit 53 a. For example, the display control unit 54a displays a measurement menu for receiving selection of a specificmeasurement item in the display area, in response to the input receivedby the input unit 2 b. Otherwise, the display control unit 54 a displaysmenus such as “patient information”, “image quality parameter”, and“image viewing” in the display area, in the same manner as the firstembodiment.

The control of the menu display performed by the display control unit 54a is the same as the control of the menu display performed by thedisplay control unit 17 a according to the first embodiment, and thusdetailed explanations are omitted here.

The menu processing control unit 54 b controls the units of theapparatus main body 10 so that processes are executed in correspondencewith individual menus under the control of the display control unit 54a. For example, the menu processing control unit 54 b controls thelater-described measuring unit 54 e, in accordance with the input on themeasurement menu 41 or 43 displayed in the display area 20.

The measuring unit 54 e performs measurement onto the medical image fora specific measurement item. This measuring unit 54 e performsmeasurement in relation to the selected measurement item under thecontrol of the menu processing control unit 54 b, based on the input onthe measurement menu. For example, in response to the input on themeasurement menu, the measuring unit 54 e performs a process ofmeasuring a certain distance in the ultrasonic image or a process ofmeasuring the size of a certain area included in the ultrasonic image.

The setting information changing unit 54 c changes the associationbetween the area information and the menu information in the settinginformation stored in the setting information storage unit 53 a.Furthermore, the setting information changing unit 54 c changes the areaposition information included in the setting information and the areasize information included in the setting information. The function ofthe setting information changing unit 54 c is the same as that of thesetting information changing unit 17 c explained in the firstembodiment, and thus detailed explanations are omitted here.

As described above, the medical image displaying apparatus 50 accordingto the second embodiment includes the image obtaining unit 54 f, theimage storage unit 53 b, the display unit 51, the input unit 52, and thedisplay control unit 54 a. The image obtaining unit 54 f obtains medicalimages. The image storage unit 53 b stores therein the medical images.The display unit 51 includes a display area to display the medicalimages. The input unit 52 receives input in relation to the display areaof the display unit 51. Then, the display control unit 54 a displaysdifferent menus in the display area of the display unit 51 in accordancewith the input received by the input unit 52. Thus, according to thesecond embodiment, a menu is displayed only when it is necessary for theoperator, and thus the display area of the display unit 51 can beeffectively used during the examination of the medical image.

As discussed above, according to the first and second embodiments, thedisplay area of the display unit can be effectively used during theexamination of the medical image.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the inventions.

1. (canceled)
 2. An apparatus, comprising: a touch panel that displays a medical image and receives touching operation by an operator; and a processor; wherein the touch panel includes a display area in which the medical image is displayed and which includes a first area and a second area, the first area not being correlated with a function executed in response to the touching operation, the second area being correlated with a function executed in response to the touching operation and not displaying therein a graphic for operation, and the processor executes the function being correlated with the second area in response to the touching operation to the second area.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the function being correlated to the second area and executed in response to the touching operation is changed according to a change of at least one of an imaging mode and a display mode.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the function being correlated to the second area and executed in response to the touching operation is executed in a first imaging mode and is not executed in a second imaging mode.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the function begin correlated to the second area and executed in response to the touching operation is executed in a first imaging mode and is not executed in a second imaging mode.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the function being correlated to the second area and executed in response to the touching operation is executed in a first display mode and is not executed in a second display mode.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the function being correlated to the second area and executed in response to the touching operation is executed in a first display mode and is not executed in a second display mode.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the function being correlated to the second area and executed in response to the touching operation is executed in a first display mode and is not executed in a second display mode.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the function being correlated to the second area and executed in response to the touching operation is executed in a first display mode and is not executed in a second display mode.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display area includes a plurality of second areas being correlated to different functions.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the display area includes a plurality of second areas being correlated to different functions.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the function being correlated to the second area and executed in response to the touching operation includes a function of displaying the graphic for operation.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the function being correlated to the second area and executed in response to the touching operation includes a function of displaying a menu.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the function being correlated to the second area and executed in response to the touching operation includes a function relating to an image quality parameter. 